Love. Live. Give. for Libby Judge

Hello Everyone!

It is hard to believe that a year has passed since the Fifth Annual Love.Live.Give. Fundraiser in support of Libby Judge. We are happy to report that thanks to all of your love and generous contributions, Libby continues to make good rehabilitative progress despite enduring many medical setbacks along the way. It has been five years since the Ides of March 2014 when Libby suffered her life altering accident.

The following is a condensed recap of her last year. Libby compares it to being on a seesaw - there were many ups and downs.

Since Libby and her husband, Joe, have six grandchildren, five boys and one little girl, they spend many weekends on the sidelines of baseball, football and basketball games cheering for them. She has said there were numerous times that she wanted to jump out of her wheelchair in the midst of all of the excitement! Libby is very proud of her grandchildren and she is so grateful that she is able to be a part of their lives.

Libby tries to stay in touch with her many wonderful friends. Libby greatly enjoys her involvement with a weekly women's bible study group, Walking With Purpose, at Saint Monica's. She loves the women she has met there. Also, Libby is looking forward to resuming strolls in the Park with her walking buddies. She tries to be considerate and not wear them out. In the past, they have had a difficult time keeping up with her power wheelchair! She never seems to tire of seeing and being with her friends and ardent supporters. She truly appreciates all of their love and support.

Unfortunately, one of the many side effects of Libby's spinal cord injury is severe muscle spasms that frequently occur throughout her body. These spasms are quite debilitating, extremely painful and exhausting at times. Thus, Libby opted to have a Baclafen pump implanted in her body. Instead of taking the maximum dose of the oral medication, this pump disperses a fraction of the amount directly into her spinal cord, bypassing the brain, liver and kidneys. Post surgery, she spent ten days
rehabilitating at her home away from home, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. Upon completion of her rehab, Libby acquired a viral upper respiratory infection and a UTI which sent her to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for many days of treatment. It is a wonder how Libby perseveres through these medical challenges and setbacks.

In December 2018, Libby was finally able to resume physical therapy at Bryn Mawr Rehab. Shortly
afterwards though, she gradually began to feel weaker and weaker. In the beginning of February
2019, she was admitted again to the "The Hotel Jefferson", a nickname that she and Joe have given to
the hospital. Libby's sodium levels were dangerously low and another UTI was present. She stayed
at TJUH for six days receiving treatment.

Currently, Libby is gradually regaining the strength that she needs to get around. As 2019 gets underway, Libby's medical and rehabilitation bills continue to accumulate. Please know that the money that is raised for Libby's fund provides tremendous assistance in offsetting the enormous costs of the necessary aides, physical therapy and the unforeseen expenses that
occur due to unexpected illnesses and/or emergencies. Your generous contributions to this fund are greatly appreciated by Libby and her family since these expenses are much greater than what Libby's health insurance covers.

With much love and gratitude,
The Judge Family